Pressroom

News & Press Releases

• The Paciello Group and Riverdocs Announce Accessibility Services for Legacy PDF Documents

  Sep. 28, 2009 - The Paciello Group (TPG), pioneers in the field of accessible interface design, and Riverdocs, a leading document conversion solutions provider, today announced a partnership that will provide the ability to take existing PDF documents and deliver structured, accessible HTML content in conformance with existing governmental guidelines. These guidelines include adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Version 2 (WCAG 2.0), the DDA and Section 508 requirements.

  • Read the Full TPG & Riverdocs PDF Services Press Release
  • Download the full press release: The Paciello Group and Riverdocs Announce Accessibility Services for Legacy PDF Document (Microsoft Word format, 60Kb).

• Mike Paciello to Co-lead IBM open source Accessibility Tools Framework (ACTF) project

  IBM announced today (4th, December, 2007) the contribution of its Accessibility Tools Framework (ACTF) to the Eclipse Foundation, an open source community focused on developing a universal platform of frameworks and exemplary tools. The ACTF project will be lead by Chieko Asakawa (IBM) and Mike Paciello (The Paciello Group).

  Continue reading about the Accessibility Tools Framework (ACTF)

• TPG Supports WAI-ARIA

  In an effort to increase awareness regarding the accessibility of rich internet applications (RIA), Aaron Leventhal of (IBM/Mozilla Foundation) created the Accessible Rich Internet Applications/Relationship to HTML FAQ page. This series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) provides a wealth of information involving the development of accessible RIA's, the W3C's Web Accessibility Initative (WAI) ARIA support, and the relationship between ARIA and HTML 5. Leventhal also provides a list of corporate and organizational resources, including IBM, Google, ATRC, Mozilla Foundation, Yahoo, and The Paciello Group (TPG). TPG is particularly focused on best practices involving WAI-ARIA live regions and WAI-ARIA in HTML. Two of TPG's lead developers, Gez Lemon and Hans Hillen, have been instrumental in research and development involving ARIA. Gez's most current article, WAI-ARIA in HTML is featured on his personal site, Juicy Studio.

• German language version of the Color Contrast Analyser 2.0 now available
• View the Free Webinar "Dealing with the Section 508 Accessibility Mandate Today and Tomorrow", download the Webinar presentation (Powerpoint, 1.1 MB) or read the text transcript.
• The Paciello Group appointed to the Advisory Committee for 508 Standards Update. The committee will provide a forum for establishing consensus on updating the 508 standards and telecommunication guidelines. The Board will officially propose changes to the standards and guidelines for public comment based on the committee's recommendations.
• Web Accessibility Toolbar for Opera [WAT for Opera]. TPG have worked as part of the Web Accessibility Tools Consortium [WAT-C] to develop a manual accessibility testing tool for the Opera browser
• Mike Paciello and Jim Tobias named as Co-Chairs of the Advisory Committee for 508 Standards Update. On July 26th, Access Board Chair David L. Bibb announced the appointment of Mike Paciello and Jim Tobias as Co-Chairs of the Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee.
• CSUN 2007 Presentation: Screen Readers and Javascript. Steve Faulkner's presentation at CSUN 2007 on Screen Readers and Javascript, now available.
• Mike Paciello on AIR-Boston Advisory Board
  

  AIR stands for "Accessibility Internet Rally". AIR-Boston is a friendly, one-day web design competition in which teams of web developers create web sites for local non-profit organizations, sites that are accessible to everyone including people with disabilities and senior citizens as they age.

• National Council on Disability Releases Monthly Bulletin for July. The archived, captioned Web cast is available at www.AT508.com Sponsored by The Paciello Group
• The Paciello Group appointed to the Advisory Committee for 508 Standards Update
  

  "The committee will provide a forum for establishing consensus on updating the 508 standards and telecommunication guidelines. Topics the committee will explore include coverage of products and technologies, including new or convergent types, solutions to identified access barriers, the content of new or revised specifications and criteria, and their harmonization with comparable international efforts in this area. The Board will officially propose changes to the standards and guidelines for public comment based on the committee's recommendations."

• Web Accessibility Toolbar for Opera [WAT for Opera]

  TPG have worked as part of the Web Accessibility Tools Consortium [WAT-C] to develop a manual accessibility testing tool for the Opera browser.

• ComputerWorld: Accessibility Comes to a Head
  

  Mike Paciello:
  "Technology that supports people with disabilities is so far behind," he said. "Whenever they start to get caught up, they get thrown back another five steps. [But] with AJAX, I don't think it will be five steps back because we already have a handle on it. We're probably one or two steps back."

• Developers Working to Overcome AJAX Accessibility Issues
  

  "Despite providing slick advantages over standard Web application techniques, AJAX presents accessibility issues for some users. Developers, however, are working to address the problem."

• AJAX and Screen Readers
  

  "Gez Lemon [from The Paciello Group] and Steve Faulkner [WAT-C] have spent the time to write about Making Ajax Work with Screen Readers"

• Bindows 2.0 provides Section 508 tools for developers
• MB Technologies' Bindows - First Framework to Support Accessibility for Ajax and Web 2.0 Applications
• Accessibility Expert Gez Lemon Joins The Paciello Group